WEIGHT-CREDIT FOUNDATION CONSTRUCTION USING FOAM PLASTIC AS FILL

By using foam plastic as a replacement fill, and thereby obtaining a dramatic "weight-credit", many potential construction sites in areas with weak soils may be developed to their full potential. On one job, the pressure caused by an embankment for a stream crossing was reduced from about 1200 psf to about 615 psf (at the abutment) by installing five feet of foam plastic (3 pcf) in place of soil backfill (120 pcf). The weak soils below were able to sustain the reduced pressure. This paper describes patented methods for similar weight-credit construction for highways, railroads, pipelines, airports, and retaining structures. Special applications for pile foundations are suggested.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at the New Horizons in Construction Materials International Symposium, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, November 1-3, 1976.
• Corporate Authors:

  Envo Publishing Company, Incorporated

  P.O. Box 2326
  Lehigh Valley, PA  United States  10001
• Authors:
  • Monahan, E J
• Conference:
  • Presented at the New Horizons in Construction Materials International Symposium, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, November 1-3, 1976.
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 199-210

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Construction; Construction sites; Embankments; Fills; Foamed materials; Foams; Foundations; Pile foundations; Plastics; Polymers; Properties of materials; Retaining walls; Road construction; Soil mechanics; Soils; Streams; Support piles; Urethane; Weight
• Uncontrolled Terms: Soil properties
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Geotechnology; Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00158308
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Report/Paper Numbers: Vol. 1 Conf Paper
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 31 1977 12:00AM